Demographic trends point to more young people in the African population than ever before – approximately 70 percent of Africa’s 1 billion people is under the age of 30. Across the continent many young people are reportedly choosing not to pursue livelihoods in agriculture, especially as farmers. If this is...

 La Société de développement du coton du Cameroun (SODECOTON) utilise le conseil comme une innovation pour réformer sa démarche d’appui aux producteurs. L’objectif de cette recherche était d’étudier la transformation des dispositifs d’appuis aux producteurs à partir de l’analyse de l’application du conseil. Le dispositif comprend la SODECOTON, les producteurs et les...

Small‐scale
 agriculture
 is
 one
 of
 the
 few
 tools
 available
 to
 support
 improved
rural
 livelihoods
on
a
 significant
 scale
in
South
Africa.
Access
 to
output
markets
is
a
key
 obstacle
 for
 small
 farmers
 in
 generating
 higher
 incomes.
 Thus,
the
 rise
 of
modern
 markets
 (supermarkets
 in
 particular)
 is
 generally
 viewed
 as
 positive
 for
 the
 rural
 poor,
 although
 most
 commentators
 accede
 that
 there
 are
 challenges
 to
 be
 overcome
 in
 obtaining
 access
 to
...

One of the reasons that necessitated the establishment of Women-in-Agriculture (WIA) Programme in 1989 was the perception that women farmers were not having adequate access to extension services compared to their male counterparts. Feminists argued that the inadequate access to extension services resulted in women farmers having poor farm yields,...

The majority of Nigeria’s smallholder farmers are often too poor to employ modern tools, such as tractors and ploughs, even with substantial government support. In this respect, an agricultural mechanization policy would need effective targeting with regard to particular farming activities and types of farmers for which different forms of...

Smallholder farmers in developing countries such as Uganda are faced with the difficulty of accessing sustainable markets. Such farmers include those growing sweet potato, and are becoming increasingly marginalized as urban markets demand better quality, quantity and sustainable supply of agricultural commodities. Research and Development (R&D) actors on the other...

The aim of this research is to raise and provide empirical evidence for promoting tree farming in Malawi. It addresses questions such as: Is tree farming a viable system for small-scale farmers in Malawi? Trees have multiple products for subsistence use and are also a source of income security to...

This paper argue that a class-analytic perspective centred on the key concepts of ‘petty commodity production’ and ‘accumulation from below’ is essential for understanding the differentiated character and diverse trajectories of small-scale agriculture within capitalism. The paper explores the policy implications of such a class-analytic approach, and proposes that land...

Despite the importance of smallholder agriculture in East Africa, the strategic, conceptual and empirical analysis in the context of the crisis, which would guide policymakers and development practitioners in their efforts to revitalise agriculture in the aftermath of the crisis, is sparse. Moreover, recent studies tend to examine specific constraints...

Pineapple is by far the most important crop within the horticultural sub-sector of the Ghanaian economy. The crop employs over 15,000 individuals out of which 40% are women and generates rural incomes of over 6 million USD. Large and medium commercial farms account for about 70% of production with the...

Dar voz a las poblaciones rurales, en particular a las mujeres, es el principal objetivo de Dimitra, un proyecto participativo de información y comunicación en la FAO. Dimitra también pretende destacar las contribuciones de las poblaciones rurales a sus comunidades para poner de relieve su papel decisivo en el desarrollo. Este proyecto...

A livelihoods study by SNV in 2007 concluded that it was possible to increase the income of banana producers four-fold by increasing productivity and quality per acre grown by the average household. To take up this method, a robust and effective method of transforming the mindset and practices of farmers...

January 2010 saw the launch of the world's first livestock insurance for remote African pastoralists as a result of years of research.

In this issue of BAOBAB, we focus on the importance of indigenous knowledge as a key for sustainable agriculture. This knowledge has the potential to play an important role in conserving natural resources, finding food alternatives and reducing the use of chemicals in production of materials. In this issue partnerships...

This first issue after the merger of the old Baobab with the Kilimo Endelevu Africa (KEA) looks at the importance of livestock in the livelihoods of farmers. Livestock is an integral part of most family farms, and fulfills many functions such as food, assets and fertilizer. This issue focuses on...

This issue of Baobab focuses on access to water for sustainable agriculture and livelihoods, its management and policies, or lack of them, which can regulate its effective and efficient use. In a region that highly relies on rainfall for food production, a lot needs to be done in agricultural water...

This issue of the BOABAB focuses on partnerships for learning: forging partnerships, expanding networks, including different stakeholders and meanwhile promoting sustainable agriculture. Not only do the partnerships prove important in farming matters but also in how people effected by HIV and AIDS are able to cope, improve their lives and...

Adoptée en 2007, elle vise à assurer à l’ensemble des acteurs ruraux, l’accès équitable au foncier, la garantie de leurs investissements et la gestion efficace des différends fonciers dans le but de promouvoir une agriculture productive et durable. Cette politique est renforcée par la loi N°034‐2009/AN portant régime foncier rural...

The study aimed at examining how the policies and regulations in place (or lack thereof) impact on smallscale banana farmers in Isingiro district and share possible solutions with the government, farmers, interested donors and other stakeholders.

Pineapple is by far the most important crop within the horticultural sub-sector of the Ghanaian economy. The crop employs over 15,000 individuals out of which 40% are women and generates rural incomes of over 6 million USD. Large and medium commercial farms account for about 70% of production with the...